Contents
Astrology Fundamentals
How to Understand Horoscopes
How to Calculate Your Horoscope
Signs of the Zodiac
The Planets
The Houses
The Aspects
Astrology and Compatibility
Astrology for Everyday Decisions
Astrology and Destiny
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Signs of the Zodiac
Each of the signs of the zodiac, derived from the 12 constellations known collectively as the zodiac, is associated with a set of archetypal personality traits. When conducting astrological readings, astrologers use the meanings of the signs to help people gain insight into their attitudes and approaches to life.
The Meanings of the Signs
Each sign has several attributes, each of which relates to the sign’s underlying meaning.
- A name, such as Aries
- A creature, such as a ram
- A range of calendar dates, such as March 21 to April 19
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A written symbol, such as
- A set of personality traits, such as hardworking and charismatic
- A ruling planet, such as Mars
A particular sign’s attributes are based primarily on the time of year in which the Sun moves through the sign’s portion of the zodiac on the horoscope. Consider this example for Aries, the first sign of the zodiac:
- The Sun is in (moving through) Aries from March 21 to April 19, the beginning of spring.
- Aries represents new beginnings and the growth and hard work required to till soil and plant seeds during springtime.
- Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, the traditional ruler of manual labor.
- Aries people (born between March 21 and April 19) are considered hardworking, natural leaders with the courage to try new things.
- Aries is the genus name for sheep, and astrologers believe that Aries people share the ram’s characteristics of athleticism, high energy, and impulsiveness.
- The symbol representing Aries in the horoscope looks like a ram’s horns.
The Sun Sign
Your Sun sign is the sign of the zodiac through which the Sun was moving on the day of your birth. When people mention their “sign,” they’re referring to their Sun sign. Since the Sun is the most powerful object in our sky, the Sun sign is considered the most important astrological influence on your life. At the same time, the Sun sign is not an ironclad predictor of your personality. The prominence of the traits dictated by your Sun sign may be modified by:
- The other planets in your horoscope
- The house in which the Sun appeared at the time of your birth
- The sign on the ascendant in your horoscope
Nevertheless, understanding your Sun sign is a great place to begin examining your personality and the motivations that guide your decisions.
Finding Your Sun Sign
The Sun moves through the entire zodiac during the course of one year, staying in a single sign for about 28–30 days. Your Sun sign, therefore, is the sign that contains your birthday within its date range. If you are born on a day when the Sun enters or leaves a sign, you’ll have to calculate your horoscope for the precise time and place of your birth to determine which sign the Sun was in when you were born.
Sign |
Dates |
Symbol |
Traits |
Planet |
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Aries (the Ram) |
March 21–
April 19 |
|
energetic, impulsive, athletic |
Mars |
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Taurus (the Bull) |
April 20–
May 20 |
 |
patient, methodical, determined |
Venus |
||||
Gemini (the Twins) |
May 21–
June 21 |
 |
curious, restless, communicative |
Mercury |
||||
Cancer (the Crab) |
June 22–
July 22 |
 |
sensitive, protective, indirect |
Moon |
||||
Leo (the Lion) |
July 23–
August 22 |
 |
proud, willful,
expressive |
Sun |
||||
Virgo (the Virgin) |
August 23–
September 22 |
 |
analytical, critical,
detail-oriented |
Mercury |
||||
Libra (the Scales) |
September 23–
October 22 |
 |
strategic, diplomatic, artistic |
Venus |
||||
Scorpio (the Scorpion) |
October 23–
November 21 |
 |
sensitive, passionate, loyal |
Mars/
Pluto |
||||
Sagittarius (the Archer) |
November 22–
December 21 |
 |
adventurous, independent, idealistic |
Jupiter |
||||
Capricorn (the Goat) |
December 22–
January 19 |
 |
practical, prudent, ambitious |
Saturn |
||||
Aquarius (the Water Bearer) |
January 20–
February 18 |
 |
nonconformist,
opinionated, friendly |
Saturn/
Uranus |
||||
Pisces (the Fishes) |
February 19–
March 20 |
 |
intuitive, poetic, spiritual |
Jupiter/
Neptune |
The Signs and the Elements
Astrologers have several ways of grouping the 12 signs in ways that emphasize the signs’ similarities and differences. These groupings help astrologers to identify compatibility among people born with certain Sun signs. One of the most popular groupings splits the signs according to the common personality traits—known as qualities of temperament—of people born with particular Sun signs. Signs with similar qualities of temperament are then grouped together according to the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water.
Elements |
Signs |
Qualities of Temperament |
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Fire |
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius |
impulsive, dramatic, enthusiastic |
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Earth |
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn |
practical, sensuous, dependable |
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Air |
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius |
communicative, sociable, intellectual |
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Water |
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
sensitive, compassionate, imaginative |
In nature, some elements are naturally complementary while others are not.
- Complementary: Air fuels fire; water nourishes the Earth
- Not complementary: Fire scorches the Earth; water extinguishes fire
Astrologers believe that people born with complementary signs tend to be compatible. For example, an Aries (fire) and a Gemini (air) should be compatible.
The Signs and the Modalities
Another way to group the signs of the zodiac is by modality, which refers to your general approach to life. There are three modalities: cardinal, fixed, and mutable.
Modality |
Signs |
Traits |
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Cardinal |
Aries, Cancer, Libra,
Capricorn |
Natural leaders who break new ground and like to begin projects |
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Fixed |
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius |
Natural organizers who have a flair for creating structures and enjoy routines |
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Mutable |
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces |
Natural facilitators who are adaptive, flexible, and adept at carrying out plans |
Astrologers believe that people with signs of the same modality are competitive with one another and therefore not compatible.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
